The Delight of Baroque Music and the Contributions of Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach contributions to the baroque music era are patently amongst the most significant contributions in the music history. He is considered as a genius of baroque music. This music genre is undoubtedly dramatic and very complex style of music that peaked in the early 1700’s.

Baroque is a style of the classical music and its divided into three. The early baroque which lasted until the mid-17th century, the middle baroque that lasted until the late 17th century and the late baroque which ended with the deaths of G.F Handel and J.S Bach in 1759.

Baroque music is easily recognizable; it is the fantastic and expressive music incorporated in many historical films. The high projection of emotion and a sense of underlying spirituality are the particular characteristics which underpin baroque music performance. In other words, it is a unique style that makes the deliberate use of strong contrast to heighten dramatic effect. For instance putting different sections of a piece against each other.

It has been accepted that three composers symbolize the main achievements of the Baroque. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), George Fredrick Handel (1685-1759) and Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) and

Johann Sebastian Bach Biography

Born on 21st March 1685, in Eisenach, Bach was the youngest child of Elizabeth Lammerhirt Bach and Johan Ambrosius Bach. His father was a church organist, and many of his family members were also musicians.

The members of his family were talented and skilled at playing many musical instruments such as organ, clavichord, harpsichord, and violin. Bach was capable of training in all these areas during his early years of music training.

His parents passed on when he was only nine years, and at the age of 10yrs, Bach moved on to live with his elder brother Johan Christoph who became his music teacher.

In 1700, he was awarded a singing scholarship through an opening at St Michael School in Luneburg. He tremendously improved on his singing skills and started playing the violin. Later in 1702, Bach graduated.

In 1703 he was hired as a church organist in Armstead Germany. This opportunity provided him with the chance to practice his favorite instrument. In 1707, he became a church organist for a church in Muehlhauser, Germany. He later married his Cousin Maria Barbara Bach later the same year. Also Cantata no. 71 God is My King was composed the same year.

Bach later moved to Weimar where he became a court musician to Duke Wilhelm Ernst. He was able to write many original organ musics during 1708 to 1710.

His wife died in 1720 and remarried again in 1721 to Anna Magdalena Wulken. In 1723 he was named the choir leader of Leipzig where he provided choral music to the churches St. Nicholas and St. Thomas. During this period he also gave private singing lessons and taught music classes. The majority of his choral music was composed during this time.

Sadly, he lost his eyesight during his final years and went blind during his last year of his life and on 28th July 1759 Bach died due to complications from high fever and stroke.

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